Timing light



Jan. 7, 1969 H. E. HANSON TIMING LIGHT Filed Dec. 30, 1966 INVENTOIZ Mwvm f/7f4/vso/v ha/MM 721a, 11, 72!

ATTORNEYS 7 Tun?! if a HI it m w villi/fill iwlf! w m; W //A//// wal v pl/l United States Patent 3,420,994 TIMING LIGHT Harvey E. Hanson, Glenview, Ill., assignor to Sonoco Manufacturing Inc., Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Filed Dec. 30, 1966, Ser. No. 606,326

US. Cl. 24011.4 12 Claims Int. Cl. G07g 1/00; G01r 13/42 This invention relates to the construction of stroboscopic timing lights for use in timing the ignition systems of an engine or the like, and more particularly to a timing light construction having an elongated tubular body with a lens at one end through which is viewed the flashing of a bulb disposed in the interior of the body, the bulb being energized over a pair of electrical leads extending from the body and connected to the engine and its electrical distributor.

A general object of the invention is to provide a construction for a timing light which, as compared with prior constructions, is composed of relative few and inexpensive parts uniquely combined to facilitate assembly of the timing light.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive retainer for anchoring the electrical leads and for holding the bulb in an axially centered position in the elongated body.

Another object of the invention is to center the bulb between a pair of fiat strip retainers and to anchor the leads to the strips by threading the leads through apertures in the strips.

A further object of the invention is to provide'a timing light construction which is assembled Without the use of threaded fasteners.

A further object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive retainer by employing flat strips of an inexpensive material, such as cardboard, which are shaped and apertured to anchor the electrical leads and to fit against the side Walls of a socket in the tubular body.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective view of a strobescopic timing light embodying the novel features of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view of the timing light in its assembled condition; and

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view of a strip container embodied in the timing light of FIGURE 1.

As shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, the invention is embodied in a timing light having a tubular body 11 from which extend a pair of electrical leads 12 and 14 having connectors 15 and 16 with clamping jaws 18 for attachment to the device being timed, which is usually an automobile engine. In usual practice, one connector is attached to the spark plug of a first cylinder of the engine and the other connector is connected to the distributor. A bulb 19 is disposed in an interior socket 20 of the tubular body and flashes in synchronism with the firing of the cylinder. The bulb is viewed through a lens 21 closing the open end 22 of the tubular body.

To facilitate manipulation by an operator, the tubular body has an exterior cylindrical wall 24 of a size to be grasped by the operators hand. Herein, the body is formed by molding an inexpensive plastic material, such as polystyrene, to form an elongated generally hollow body with a conical tip 25 at one end having bores 26 and 28 leading into the socket 20 in the interior of the body.

The bores are defined by cylindrical walls 29 extending parallel to each other and longitudinally of the central axis of the body. Therefore, the leads 12 and 14 are guided "ice from the exterior of the body axially through the bores to the interior of the socket for attachment to the bulb.

In accordance with the present invention, the leads 12 and 14 are anchored against being pulled from the tubular body, and the bulb 19 is held in a generally centered position in the socket 20 by an inexpensive and novel retainer in the form of flat strips 30 and 31 disposed in confronting relation. Also, in accordance with the invention the flat strips are related to the leads to electrically insulate the exposed conductors 32 at the ends of the leads connected to the electrodes.

To achieve the foregoing ends, the pair of fiat strips 30 and 31 are disposed in confronting relation at one end with a pair of cylindrical bulb electrodes 34 inserted between the strips and held by the latter against axial or radial movements which would permit the bulb to strike a cylindrical wall section 35 of the socket. Herein, the electrodes are in the form of spaced cylindrically shaped legs extending parallel to each other and normal to a central coiled body 36 which is usually filled with a gas such as neon. Other shapes and kinds of bulbs may be employed and held by the retainers and fall within the scope and spirit of the invention.

To grip and hold the bulb, the flat strips 30 and 31 are complementary to the socket wall in shape and size to abut their marginal, longitudinal edges 38 with opposite sides of the socket wall. The width of the strips between its opposite and lower edges is equal to the diameter of the cylindrical wall section 40 of the body and, from a meeting line 41, the edges of the strips taper outwardly to fit against the tapered cross-section of a truncated, conical Wall section 42 of the tubular body.

To urge the outer and upper ends of the strips together from the position of FIGURE 1 to grip the electrodes 34 therebetween, as seen in FIGURE 2, transversely extending tabs 45 are formed in the strips and extend generally normal to the remainder of the strip to engage the socket wall section 35 at points generally normal to the remainder of the flat strips. In the present instance, the tabs 45 are bent over at approximately degrees to the remainder of the strip and are semicircular in shape with an arcuate edge 46 abutted against the socket wall.

To anchor the leads 12 and 14 to the retainer strips 30 and 31, each lead is snaked, i.e., threaded through a row of spaced apertures 48 and 49, respectively, from one side of strips across to the other side of the strips and then back again to the original side of the strip. The apertures in each row are longitudinally spaced and the rows are generally parallel to each other. Herein, each strip 30 and 31 has two rows of circular apertures 48 and 49 of a diameter complementary to the diameter of the leads with the apertures in each strip alined with the apertures of the other strip to permit the insertion of the lead through the strips.

To isolate and insulate the exposed ends 32 of the loads 12 and 14 from engaging one another and to prevent a short circuit, the ends of the leads terminate along the outer faces of the strips 30 and 31. Openings 50 are formed in the strips permitting wires 51 and 52 from the respective bulb electrodes to extend to the conductors 32 where they are attached by twisting the wires to the conductors. Each opening 50 faces an imperforate portion on the opposite retainer strip so that the openings are spaced transversely from each other but are disposed longitudinally at the same distance from the upper and outer ends of retainer strips.

In accordance with an important aspect of the invention, the flat strips 30 and 31 are, in the present instance, formed of an inexpensive material, such as cardboard and are identical with each other so that a single machine, such as a die press for cutting the cardboard, can make both strips. The cardboard permits a certain amount of compression to fit against the socket walls and hence the strips need not be cut to precise tolerances. Molded plastic or other materials may be employed and fall Within the scope of the invention.

After the strips 30 and 31 are formed, one of the strips is turned through 180 degrees before being disposed against the other strip so that the opening 50 in one strip is not alined with the opening 50 in the other strip. Thus, the strips are identical but are rotated and disposed to be mirror images when placed to confront one another. The rows of apertures 48 and 49 remain alined as they are symmetrically disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the strips.

To hold the retainer strips 30 and 31 and thereby bulb 20 axially spaced from the lens 21, a ring 55 is disposed between outer ends of the retainer strips 30 and 31 and the lens. In this instance, the ring is of an outer diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the upper wall section 35 and is split axially at an interface 56. The inner end 58 of the ring abuts the tabs 45, while its outer end 59 abuts the inside face of the lens. Herein, the ring is also made of an inexpensive material such as cardboard.

To permit a snap-fit retention of the lens, an annular rib 60 is integrally formed on the tubular body to extend radially inward from the socket wall and is sufficiently flexible to permit the pressing of the larger diameter edge of the lens past the rib which then returns over and locks the lens in an annular groove 61 formed in the socket wall adjacent the upper end of the body. With the lens in place, its lower edge holds the ring 55 against the tabs 45 of the retainer strips. In accordance with the invention, the lens and retainer may be assembled and held in place Without the use of any fasteners.

To assemble the timing light, the leads 12 and 14 are inserted through the bores 28 and 26 and pulled axially through the socket and out the open end of the body. The end of leads are then each inserted through the lower aperture of the pair of confronting retainer strips 30 and 31 which'are disposed face to face with their rows of apertures 48 and 49 alined. The ends of each lead are then run longitudinally and upwardly along the other side of the strip and then inserted through an upper aperture to return to its originating side of its strip. When the leads are threaded through the apertures, the lower ends of the strips are held tightly together and, where cardboard is employed, the strips are slightly lbowed by the leads. Because of the generally axial orientation of the leads and because the apertures are closely sized to the diameter of the leads, the latter are gripped frictionally by the strips when the leads are subjected to a pulling force directed axially of the body.

The bulb 19 is inserted between the strips 30 and 31 with its electrodes 34 extending inwardly and axially of the strips. The electrode wires 51 and 52 are then inserted through. the openings 50 and are secured, as by twisting, to the exposed conductor ends 32. The retainer strips are then moved axially into the socket and the tapered edges on the strips engage the tapered socket wall 42. The tabs 45 extend generally at an angle and as the split ring 55 is telescoped within the socket wall 35, the split ring forces the tabs to assume a right angled position for engaging the socket wall about their arouate edges 46. The lens 21 is then snapped into the groove 61 and the lip 60 holds the lens in place. Thus, the bulb is held and the leads are anchored in a simple assembly operation without the use of any threaded fasteners. The edges 38 of the retainer strips 30 and 31 abut the socket wall at diametrically opposite lines of contact. When a pulling force is exerted on the lead tending to pull the leads from the tubular body, the tapered edge portions of the retainer strips wedge against the conical wall section 42 of the socket and hold the leads fast against breaking their connections with the bulb electrodes and leaving the tubular body. While the exemplary embodiment of the invention employs to separate strips 30 and 31, it will be appreciated that a single piece of material could be folded on itself to form the two strips. Moreover, a single strip could be employed With its upper end the tab 45 split by longitudinal cuts to receive the bulb between the split by longitudinal cuts From the foregoing, it will be seen that the timing light is constructed in a simple and inexpensive manner and employs a retainer which performs the dual functions of anchoring the electrical leads and holding the bulb in the socket. Also, the retainer strips and the spacer ring may be made from inexpensive materials such as cardboard.

While a preferred embodiment has been shown in the drawings and described herein, it is not intended to limit the invention by such disclosures. Rather, it is intended to cover all modifications and alternative constructions coming within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a timing light, an elongated tubular body having a wall forming an interior socket accessible through an opening at one end of the body, a bulb having electrodes inserted through the open end and disposed Within the socket, a lens snap fitted into the open end at the tubular body to close its open end and permitting observation of the flashing of the bulb, a pair of electrical leads extending through at least one aperture at the other end of the body and connected to the electrodes, and a combined bulb holding and lead anchoring means in the form of a pair of strips engaging the wall of the socket alongside edges of the strips and [lying side by side with opposed faces on opposite sides of said bulb, said strips having apertures receiving said leads.

2. The combination of claim 1 in which the socket wall has a truncated, conically shaped section, and in which the strips have complementary tapered edges for abutting against the conical shaped wall of the socket.

3. The combination of claim 2 in which each of said strips has an integral tab at one end extending normal to the remainder of the strip and engaging the socket wall.

4. The combination of claim 2 in which a row of longitudinally spaced apertures are provided in each strip for one lead and a second row of longitudinally spaced apertures are provided in each strip for the second lead, the apertures on one strip being alined with the apertures of the other strip to allow a lead to be threaded through alined pairs of apertures, the first lead extending from the tubular body to one side of the strips, then through one pair of alined apertures and along the other side of strips to another pair of alined apertures and through these apertures to return to the one side of the strips, the second lead extending from the tubular body to the other side of the strips and inserted through a pair of alined apertures to the first side of the strips and through a pair of alined apertures to the other side.

5. The combination of claim 4 in which an additional opening is provided in each strip at a location spaced transversely of the additional opening in the other strip, and in which wires from the respective electrodes are connected to respective leads through these openings.

6. The combination of claim 3 in which a spacer ring is telescoped in the body and is disposed intermediate the lens and the tabs to space the bulb longitudinally from the lens.

7. The combination of claim 3 in which the tabs are bent at generally right angles at one end of the strip and in which the tabs have arcuate peripheral edges abutting the socket Wall.

8. The combination of claim 7 in which the strips are made from a flat paperboard material.

9. The combination of claim 5 in which the strips are identical in shape and are made from a fiat paperboard material, one of said strips being rotated through degrees to be in a mirror image relationship to the other strip.

10. The combination of claim 6 in which the ring is a split ring and is made of a paperboard material.

11. In a timing light, an elongated tubular body having an interior socket with one end of the body being closed and the other end being open, a bulb having a pair of spaced cylindrical electrodes inserted through the open end of the body and disposed within the socket, an annular retaining groove formed in the socket wall adjacent the open end of the tubular body, a circular lens disposed in the open end and snap fitted into the annular groove to close the open end and to permit observation of the bulb, the socket wall of said body having a portion with a longitudinally tapering surface, a pair of elongated flat strips of paperboard material with side edges tapered to abut the tapered surfaces on the socket walls, transversely extending tab portions on the respective flat strips for extending generally normal to the remainder of the flat strip and disposed to abut the socket walls, said tabs holding said strips in engagement With the electrodes and holding the bulb in position, a ring of paperboard material telescoped into the socket and engaging the tabs at one end and the lens at the other end to hold the strips and the bulb from engaging the lens, a pair of electrical leads extending through an aperture in the body into the socket, said strips having spaced apertures and said leads being threaded through the spaced apertures to be anchored to the strips, said leads being electrically connected to the electrodes of the bulb.

12. In a timing light, an elongated tubular body having a wall forming an interior socket accessible through an opening at one end of the body, a bulb having electrodes inserted through the open end and disposed within the socket, a lens snap fitted into the open end at the tubular body to close its open end and permitting observation of the flashing of the bulb, a pair of electrical leads extending through at least one aperture at the other end of the body and connected to the electrodes, and a com bined bulb holding and lead anchoring means in the form of at least one strip engaging the wall of the socket alsong side edges of the strip and having portions holding said bulb and apertures receiving said leads.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,039,214 4/1936 Eaton 24011.4 2,270,492 1/1942 Badalewski 240-11.4 2,637,803 5/1953 Reife'nberg 240-11.4 2,644,131 6/1953 Walraven et a1 32417 NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

R. P. GREINER, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. O1. X.R. 

1. IN A TIMING LIGHT, AN ELONGATED TUBULAR BODY HAVING A WALL FORMING AN INTERIOR SOCKET ACCESSIBLE THROUGH AN OPENING AT ONE END OF THE BODY, A BULB HAVING ELECTRODES INSERTED THROUGH THE OPEN END AND DISPOSED WITHIN THE SOCKET, A LENS SNAP FITTED INTO THE OPEN END AT THE TUBULAR BODY TO CLOSE ITS OPEN END AND PERMITTING OBSERVATION OF THE FLASHING OF THE BULB, A PAIR OF ELECTRICAL LEADS EXTENDING THROUGH AT LEAST ONE APERTURE AT THE OTHER END OF THE BODY AND CONNECTED TO THE ELECTRODES, AND A COMBINED BULB HOLDING AND LEAD ANCHORING MEANS IN THE FORM OF A PAIR OF STRIPS ENGAGING THE WALL OF THE SOCKET ALONGSIDE EDGES OF THE STRIPS AND LYING SIDE BY SIDE WITH OPPOSED FACES ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID BULB, SAID STRIPS HAVING APERTURES RECEIVING SAID LEADS. 